Texas releases 2018-19 non-conference basketball schedule

Texas head coach Shaka Smart signals to the crowd after defeating Oklahoma State 65-64 in an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. (Nick Wagner /Austin American-Statesman via AP) less

Texas head coach Shaka Smart signals to the crowd after defeating Oklahoma State 65-64 in an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. (Nick Wagner /Austin American-Statesman ... more

Photo: Nick Wagner, MBO / Associated Press

Photo: Nick Wagner, MBO / Associated Press

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Texas head coach Shaka Smart signals to the crowd after defeating Oklahoma State 65-64 in an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. (Nick Wagner /Austin American-Statesman via AP) less

Texas head coach Shaka Smart signals to the crowd after defeating Oklahoma State 65-64 in an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. (Nick Wagner /Austin American-Statesman ... more

Photo: Nick Wagner, MBO / Associated Press

Texas releases 2018-19 non-conference basketball schedule

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AUSTIN – Texas on Thursday released its finalized non-conference schedule for the 2018-19 season.

UT will open its season at home against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 6, then head to El Paso to face Arkansas on Nov. 9 as part of the 2018 Armed Forces Classic at Fort Bliss.

The Longhorns' slate also features a rematch with VCU on Dec. 5 at the Erwin Center, the second part of a home-and-home set dictated by a provision in coach Shaka Smart's contract, and a visit from Big Ten power Purdue on Dec. 9.

Texas will face Providence, which has qualified for the NCAA tournament in five straight seasons, at home on Dec. 21. The teams last faced off in 2004.

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Media: Sports Illustrated

The biggest early season barometer will be a Thanksgiving trip to Sin City. Texas is one of four teams invited to the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23. The four-team event held at Orleans Arena will also feature Michigan State, North Carolina, and UCLA, but pairings for the games have not been determined.

The Big 12 schedule has not been finalized at this time, but UT will begin conference play during the first week of 2019.